Improving waitlist and transplant outcomes by addressing symptoms and quality of life in liver transplant candidates and recipients

Dr. Rogal works clinically as a transplant hepatologist with a research interest in improving waitlist and transplant outcomes by addressing symptoms and quality of life in the transplant population. She has found that untreated pre-transplant depression was associated with increased rejection and that poorly-managed depression in the early post-transplant period is among the strongest predictors of long-term post-transplant mortality. Dr. Rogal plans to develop behavioral interventions to address mental health symptoms in the peri-transplant period in order to improve health outcomes.

Despite the number of known drug interactions and the critical role the liver plays in metabolizing medications, little work has been done to develop safe protocols for managing symptoms such as pain in depression in the peri-transplant setting. Dr. Rogal is also working to develop algorithms for safely managing symptoms in patients with liver disease in the peri-transplant period.